Wyoming's Brett Smith slicing through defenses

CSU coach Jim McElwain said Cowboys' Smith is a scary proposition

By Mike Brohard Sports Editor

Posted:
10/15/2013 04:27:05 PM MDT

Wyoming quarterback Brett Smith is third in the nation in total yardage, averaging 379 per game. Last year, Smith accounted for five touchdowns as the Cowboys won the Border War for the fourth straight meeting.

FORT COLLINS - Before playing - and losing - to Wyoming last Saturday, New Mexico coach Bob Davie paid Cowboys quarterback Brett Smith a compliment, saying the junior "plays 100 miles per hour."

It made sense to anybody who has watched Smith grow in Dave Christensen's offense the past three seasons, and it meant a lot to Smith himself.

Colorado State coach Jim McElwain is also impressed with Smith, and rightly so considering his performance against the Rams the past two seasons. As a football purist, McElwain stated, he likes to watch Smith in action.

But his description of Smith really needs a visual aid.

"I call it a rolling ball of butcher knives," McElwain said of Smith. "You ever thought about getting out of the way of a rolling ball of butcher knives? I love it."

So did Smith, who wasn't exactly sure how to respond, but he seemed to understand the source and what he was saying.

"I've never heard that one," said Smith with a laugh. "That one's pretty cool. I met him in Las Vegas, and he's such a great guy and a great coach as well, so it means a lot."

It wasn't coach hyperbole coming from McElwain, either, who noted the Cowboys are a much better team with him on the field than off of it, as he was at times in 2012.

McElwain's point: Would anybody want to get in the way of that? It seems nobody has, and the numbers back him up. Smith is third in the nation in total offense, averaging 379 yards per game. His 309 yards passing per outing ranks 12th nationally, and he sits 10th in points accountable with his three rushing and 15 passing touchdowns.

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Christensen, who really had no idea what to make of McElwain's comment, has said in the past there isn't a more perfect quarterback for his system. However, while he admits Smith is a big-time player, he's far from perfect, and that still remains the goal.

"Brett will be the first to tell you there's a number of things he could have done better on Saturday," Christensen said. "There's no question he's a big-time playmaker for us and is playing very well. I'm more interested in correcting the things he's not doing well and making sure we get those taken care of, because it's going to be key for us he get better each and every week starting this week."

Smith has definitely improved since winning Mountain West freshman of the year honors in 2011. His passing has improved significantly. He's thrown for 1,854 yards to this point in the season, a pace 100 yards a game ahead of his first campaign. And while they have tried to protect him more in the run game, he's still second on the team with 420 yards. He hit New Mexico for 138 last week, including fourth-quarter scoring rushes of 3 and 48 yards.

That's a scary proposition for Colorado State this Saturday, as Smith has been plenty good enough in his two Border War games. He accounted for five touchdowns last year (four passing, one rushing), throwing for 250 yards. The year before, while the Rams did pick him off twice, he rushed for 95 yards and threw for two touchdowns.

More to the point, he's 2-0 in those games.

He's not one to say that he rises to the big occasion, but he is proud of the way he's played in the Border War, the game the Cowboys say is their most important of the season.

"I always enjoy being part of a rivalry this intense and this big," he said. "It means so much to be a part of a game with a lot of history. I don't know if that has anything to do with the way I play. I understand the significance behind the rivalry and all the hype that surrounds it with our fans and their fans. It's nice to be a part of it."

It hasn't been nice for the Rams, who haven't carried the Bronze Boot off the field since 2008. They'd like to reverse the trend, but they know Smith won't make it easy.

"I respect him. He's progressed over the years," CSU cornerback Shaq Bell said. "He's been throwing the ball well, running well and he's competitive. He'll talk junk to you, or talk a little smack on the field. You don't usually get that from quarterbacks. It makes you want to get after him more."

Smith won't deny he's thrown in his fair share of words during the Border War, but he insists he's never been the first to talk. He just wasn't raised that way.

It's also something he said he's working on this year, though the emotions of the game make it hard sometimes.

"I think it's part of the rivalry game," Smith said. "I've never wanted that to be a part of my game, and I think I've matured in that as I've gotten older, and this year it hasn't been what it has been the last couple of years."

Besides, close your eyes and picture it: After a rolling ball of butcher knives has run its course, what words are really needed.

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